Before beginning his studies in Aalto University in Finland, Tong Ren worked with industrial design. He became familiar with the craft early in his life: his sister is a designer and his father a traditional Chinese painter.
Tong finds inspiration in nature, and he often walks in Lammassaari in Helsinki. Even looking at the same tree can spark a different idea each time. "It's always important for me to think about how tiny I am compared with nature", he ponders. His pattern METSA for Lapuan Kankurit echoes this interest in nature. "It is peaceful, but full of textures", Tong describes. Tong appreciates the simple life in Finland. He also finds that Finns are passionate about protecting nature. That's why he is so thrilled to work with Lapuan Kankurit and other Finnish brands, such as Kauniste.